Shovel attachment for pitchforks.



G. PETERSON.

SHOVEL ATTACHMENT FOR PITCHFORKS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 30| T916.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917'.

\|.IlI|II lI\IIIIIIIII III| II l me/Moz eogygzzgaz GEORGE PETERSON, OF NEW AUBURN, WISCONSN.

SHOVEL ATTACHMENT FOB PITCHFORKS.

Specification of Letters 'Patent Patented iflarl, lill?.

Application iiled October 30, 1916. Serial No. 128,513.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known'that l, GEORGE PETERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Auburn, in the county of Chippewa and State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shovel Attachments for Pitchforks; and I dode clare the following to be a lnr'ull, clear, and

eXact description of the invention, such asv chal'acter by the provision of a simple,v

strong, durable and inexpensive construction and a device which is well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

lV ith these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and c:lai15ned.

In the accompanying drawings forming;` a part of the application and in which similar reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a shovel blade constructed in accordance with this invention, showingr the same applied to an ordinary pitch fork;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the shovel blade applied to the pitch fork taken on the plane of the line 2.-2 of F ig. 1;

.Fig 3 is a transverse sectional View of the same taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the clamp at the upper end of the blade taken on the plane of the line 4&4 of Fig. 2.

Referring,r more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a shovel blade made preferably,r ot sheet metal stamped into any desired shape, and ha ving its lower edge bent under upon itself as at 2 and stamped outwardly at transversely .,spaeed distances to form in connection with the blade'proper l, longitudinal-ly extending sockets 3, the purpose oi which will be hereinafter described. The blade 1 is substantially of a length equalto that of the pitch fork in connection with which it is designed to be used.

Arranged midway ot' the width ot the blade 1 at the upper end thereof and extending longitudinally relatively to the same a U-shaped resilientclamp l, the lower end 'of which isprovided with an extension 5 having,r a hinged connection G with the upper end ot the blade 1. .ks shown, this hinged connection is disposed upon the upper side of the blade 1 and has its axis arranged in parallel relation with respect to the lorfer edge ot' the blade. The open side et the clamp 4 is disposed rearwardly, the purpose of which will be hereinafter de Tiberi. At the other end ot the clamp -lis an angularly disposed extension 7 which forms a thumb' piece tor a hereinafter to be described purpose.

A blade constructed in this manner is designed particularly to be attached to an ordinary Stable or pitch fork, and in this connect-ion Fig. 2 oi' the drawings shows it applied thereto. In this ligure the tines 8 ot the fork are disposed adjacent the lower side ot the blade 1, the points ot' the vFormer beingr received in the sockets 3 at the lower end of the latter, while the handle f) ot the fork is engaged by the clamp 4, said clamp All being'- swung on its pivot toward said handle to effect this engagement. The cross bar El connecting the tines at the upper end of the lork is engaged by the lower or inner edges ot the arms ot the clamp 4, when the latter is in its operative position. lVhen in this position the inner edges of the arms of the clamp extend substantially -at right angles to the upper portion of the back of the blade as shown in Fig. 2. This prevents the tines ol the fork lfrom accidentally sliding.,r longitudinally out otthc sockets in the blade. When it is desired to remove the blade ltrom the tor-k, it is only necessary to grasp the thumb piece 'formed lby the eX- tension 7 and move the clamp away troni the handle ot the fork, and then slide the blade downwardly or longitudinally with respect to the tines ot the tork.

A device constructed in ata-.ordance with this invention will be found very useful the construction, advantages and use of the invention will be readily understood without a more extended explanationu As numerous changes in form, proportion, and 1n the mmor detalls of constructwn said blade when said clamp 1s 1n its handle-v may be resorted to without departing from the spirit. of derstood tv 't I do not wish to be limited to the construction herein shown and described other than that set forth in the appended claim.

A shovel attachment for pitch forks com prising a shovel blade of a length substantially equal to the length of the pitch fork in connection with which it is to be used,

this invention.l it is to be unupper side of the latter midway of itswidth l( and at the upper end thereof, said clamp extending longitudinally with respect to said blade and having its open side disposed rearwardly to receive the handle of the fork,

the inner edges of the resilient arms of said clamp extending substantially `at right angles to the upper portion of the back of engaging position to engage the cross bar connecting the upper. ends of the tines of the fork.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE PETERSON.

Witnesses:

LEROY ABRAHAMSON, J. Eow. ERICKSON. 

